Digital flipbooks are quickly becoming the preferred format for sharing beautifully designed content online. They offer the look and feel of a high-end publication, without the printing costs, delivery delays or recycling bin fate.
ISSUU is one of the leading platforms that transforms your PDF into an interactive flipbook. With just a few clicks, you can embed a page-turning publication on your website, share it through social media or email, and even track how people interact with it. Your content looks better, performs better and reaches more people.
In this article, you will learn how to design and publish a flipbook using ISSUU, what makes a digital brochure work well, and how a graphic designer can help you take things from good to great.
Why Flipbooks?
Let us start with the obvious question: why use a flipbook instead of sending out a PDF or a printed version?
Flipbooks bridge the gap between print and digital in a visually engaging way. They give your audience the experience of flipping through a real brochure or newsletter, but with all the benefits of being online. They load on any device, support interactive features like hyperlinks and video, and feel much more polished than a flat PDF attachment in an email.
Most importantly, flipbooks encourage longer viewing time and higher engagement. Your audience can click, scroll, flip and explore in a much more natural way, which increases the chances they will read and respond to your content.
Step 1: Plan Your Content and Design
Before you get to ISSUU, you will need a brochure or newsletter ready to go in PDF format. You can create this in any design tool that exports high-resolution PDFs, such as Adobe InDesign, Canva, Affinity Publisher or even PowerPoint, if you know what you are doing.
Here are a few design tips that will make your flipbook look great on ISSUU:
- Use standard page sizes (such as A4 or Letter) to ensure compatibility
- Keep your layout consistent with your brand colours, fonts and style
- Make headings bold and easy to scan
- Use images that are high resolution but not overly large in file size
- Leave enough space around edges so nothing feels crowded
Flipbooks are all about creating a smooth, seamless reading experience. If you are producing digital brochures regularly, our marketing recruitment team can help you find permanent or contract designers to streamline future content workflows.
Step 2: Sign Up for ISSUU and Upload Your PDF
Once your design is finished and exported as a PDF, go to ISSUU.com and create an account. You can start with a free plan, though paid options allow for more branding control, analytics and interactive features.
After signing in:
- Click “Upload” in the top menu
- Drag and drop your PDF or select it from your files
- Add a title and description that reflect your content clearly
- Choose a category (for example: Business, Education, Lifestyle)
- Set your visibility to Public, Unlisted or Password Protected
- Click “Publish”
Once uploaded, ISSUU will automatically generate your flipbook. You can then preview it to make sure everything looks the way you expected.
Step 3: Add Interactive Elements
One of the biggest advantages of ISSUU is its ability to add interactivity without editing the original file.
After uploading your PDF:
- Use the Link Editor to add clickable areas on the page
- Link text or images to your website, social media, email address or landing pages
- Add video overlays to enhance the multimedia experience
- Include navigation elements such as a clickable table of contents
- Enable internal links between pages for easier browsing
These enhancements improve the user experience and encourage your audience to take action, whether it is booking a service, signing up for your email list or purchasing a product.
Step 4: Customise the Viewer
ISSUU allows you to choose how your publication will appear to readers. You can:
- Adjust the theme and colours of the flipbook viewer
- Choose whether it opens in full screen by default
- Control page transitions and autoplay features
- Hide or display the ISSUU branding depending on your plan
Preview your flipbook on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure it reads well across different screen sizes. A brochure that looks great on a laptop might need adjustments to be just as effective on mobile.
Step 5: Embed or Share Your Flipbook
Once your flipbook is ready, you can share it in several ways.
Embed on Your Website
ISSUU provides you with an embed code that works on most website platforms, including WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify. Just copy the code and paste it into the HTML section where you want the flipbook to appear.
This is ideal for portfolios, case studies, event brochures or digital menus.
Share via Direct Link
Each publication has a unique URL. Share this link through your social media accounts, digital ads or even on printed material using a QR code.
Add to Email Campaigns
While you cannot embed a flipbook directly inside an email, you can link to it with a preview image. This works well for newsletters and email promotions where you want a professional, interactive feel without heavy attachments.
Step 6: Promote and Track Performance
Publishing your flipbook is only half the job. Now you need to get people to read it.
Start by sharing it in the places your audience already visits, your homepage, blog posts, Instagram stories, Facebook page, LinkedIn profile or email signature. If your publication supports a product launch or event, include it in your digital ads and influencer marketing as well.
ISSUU also offers analytics that help you track:
- Number of views
- Time spent per page
- Device and location data
- Clicks on links and interactive features
These insights can guide your content decisions moving forward, helping you see what is working and what needs improvement. For deeper insight into your content's impact, consider working with a marketing consultant who can review performance metrics and recommend improvements across your content strategy.
Step 7: Keep Improving With Each Issue
Once your first flipbook is live, use the feedback and data to inform your next edition.
You might notice some pages have lower engagement. This could be a design issue, a content gap or a CTA that is not strong enough. Small tweaks, like moving links higher up the page, changing image placement or shortening copy, can make a big difference.
Publishing regularly also gives your audience something to look forward to. Whether it is a monthly newsletter or quarterly brochure, consistency builds trust and keeps your brand top of mind.
When to Hire a Graphic Designer
While ISSUU makes publishing simple, the design stage still matters. A well-designed flipbook can feel like a premium magazine. A poorly designed one, however, can damage your brand image.
A professional graphic designer can help you:
- Translate your brand into consistent visual storytelling
- Create layouts that are both stylish and functional
- Prepare interactive elements that enhance, rather than distract from, your message
- Export files that are optimised for both print and digital platforms
- Maintain visual consistency across multiple campaigns or editions
If your team is short on time or you are not confident in your design tools, it is worth bringing in help. You will save time and get a far better result.
Need help getting everything set up just right?
We connect businesses with talented graphic designers who know how to turn flat files into scroll‑stopping digital content. Whether you are producing a one‑off brochure or a monthly newsletter series, our designers can help you create branded publications that feel just as good to read as they look.
From layout design and file preparation to adding interactive features and embedding your ISSUU flipbook, your Cemoh designer will take care of every detail. You get polished, professional results without the back and forth or stress. Hire a graphic designer through Cemoh today and bring your next brochure or newsletter to life online.